CABLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A cable assembly includes a cable provided with at least two separate power conductors and at least one earth conductor. Systems and methods are also provided for charging an electrical energy storage on basis of such a cable assembly.

Claims

1. A charging system for an electric energy storage comprising a cable charging assembly, a plug transition between said charging cable assembly and said electric energy storage, said cable charging assembly comprising a cable provided with at least two separate power conductors and at least one earth conductor, wherein the at least two separate power conductors are spaced a distance apart from each other within said cable, each power conductor surrounds at least one tube, and each power conductor comprises a plurality of intertwisted wires stranded around said tube, wherein said cable charging assembly comprises at least two separate cooling circuits within said cable, namely a first cooling circuit comprising a cooling fluid in the tubes surrounded by the at least two power conductors and a second cooling circuit comprising a cooling fluid in auxiliary tubes to cool the plug transition.

2. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said first cooling circuit comprises a cooling unit, wherein especially said first cooling circuit for cooling separate power conductors comprises tubes, a tube connector, a cooling unit and a pump, wherein said tubes are surrounded by said power conductors.

3. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said second cooling circuit comprises a cooling unit, wherein especially said second cooling circuit for cooling said plug transition comprises auxiliary tubes, cooling blocks, a cooling unit and a pump.

4. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said first cooling circuit and said second cooling circuit comprise a mutual cooling unit.

5. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluids of said first cooling circuit and said second cooling circuit are cooled in a mutual cooling unit.

6. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one earth conductor surrounds said at least one auxiliary tube.

7. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein each power conductor is surrounded by a sheath, said sheath being surrounded by an earth conductor.

8. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said least two separate power conductors are surrounded by a common sheath, said common sheath being surrounded by an earth conductor.

9. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein the cross sectional area of each power conductor is equal to or greater than the cross sectional area of each earth conductor.

10. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein a tape wrapping is positioned between said tube for conveying of a cooling fluid and said power conductor.

11. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein a signal conductor is arranged inside of said cable in order to provide transmission of information along said cable.

12. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more auxiliary tubes for conveying of a cooling fluid are provided at interstices between the at least two separate power conductors.

13. A charging system according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the charging cable assembly is 45 mm or less.

14. A method for charging an electrical energy storage comprising: a base station, a charging cable assembly connected with the base station and a plug transition between the charging cable assembly and the electric energy storage, wherein the charging cable assembly is provided with at least two separate power conductors, at least one earth conductor and at least two auxiliary tubes, wherein each power conductor surrounds a tube, wherein a first cooling fluid is pumped from the base station through the tubes surrounded by the at least two separate power conductors and wherein a second cooling fluid is pumped from the base station through the auxiliary tubes for cooling the plug transitions.

15. The method according claim 14, wherein the charging current is at least 350 Amps, preferably at least 500 Amps, more preferably at least 1000 Amps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in cross-section view.

[0038] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in cross-section view.

[0039] FIG. 3 schematically shows a third embodiment of a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in cross-section view.

[0040] FIG. 4 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in cross-section view.

[0041] FIG. 5 schematically shows a fifth embodiment of a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in cross-section view.

[0042] FIG. 6 schematically shows a cable for a cable assembly according to the present invention in side view in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the invention, an embodiment that is presently preferred, in which like numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings The specific embodiments disclosed herein are merely illustrative of specific configurations and do not limit the scope of the claimed embodiments. Features from different embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments unless noted otherwise. Variations or modifications described with respect to one of the embodiments may also be applicable to other embodiments. Further, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a first possible embodiment of a cable assembly 1 according to the invention. The cable assembly 1 comprises two separate power conductors and one earth conductor, wherein the two separate power conductors are spaced a distance apart from each other within the cable assembly. Cable assembly 1 comprises two tubes 10 that are arranged for conveying a cooling fluid along the cable assembly 1 and are arranged inside of cable assembly 1. Tube 10 has a wall 11. A power conductor 12 surrounds tube 10 for conveying of a cooling fluid. Each power conductor 12 comprises a plurality of intertwisted wires stranded around tube 10. The layer of wires is surrounded by a layer 13, e.g. a sheet or tube. For some applications, cable assembly 1 may comprise a transmission element 15 suited for the transmission of signals and/or information. The transmission element may comprise two or more signal conductors and/or optical fibers. Cable 1 is also provided with an earth conductor 16. One or more auxiliary tubes (not shown) may further be provided in the cable assembly of FIG. 1. Such auxiliary tubes may be used to covey a cooling fluid to and from plug transitions, or as return lines for cooling fluid supplied through the tubes 10 surrounded by the power conductors 12.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a second possible embodiment of a cable assembly 2 according to the invention. In this embodiment cable 2 further comprises an auxiliary tube 20 for conveying of a cooling fluid, wherein earth conductor 22 surrounds auxiliary tube 20. Auxiliary tube 20 has a wall 21. The cable assembly of this second possible embodiment may further optionally comprise one or more second auxiliary tubes that are not surrounded by a conductor. For some applications, cable assembly 2 may comprise one or more transmission elements suited for the transmission of signals and/or information. The transmission element may comprise two or more signal conductors and/or optical fibers.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a third possible embodiment of a cable assembly 3 according to the invention. Cable 3 is provided with two separate power conductors and two earth conductors. There are two auxiliary tubes 20 for conveying of a cooling fluid, wherein each earth conductor 22 surrounds auxiliary tube 20. Auxiliary tube 20 has a wall 21. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each tube and each conductor (power or earth) may have equal cross sections. Such a construction allows for an easy installation and use of the cable assembly, because any connection of the two power and earth conductors will give a functioning system. Alternatively the embodiment of FIG. 3 allows to use the cable system as a three phase cable in which case one of the earth conductors is used as a power conductor. The cable assembly of this third possible embodiment may further optionally comprise one or more second auxiliary tubes that are not surrounded by a conductor.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a fourth possible embodiment of a cable assembly 4 according to the invention. In this embodiment layer 13 is surrounded with an earth conductor 40. The cable assembly of this fourth possible embodiment may further optionally comprise one or more second auxiliary tubes that are not surrounded by a conductor.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a fifth possible embodiment of a cable assembly 5 according to the invention. In this embodiment the two separate power conductors are surrounded by and embedded in a common sheath 50, wherein the common sheath 50 is surrounded by an earth conductor 51 which is surrounded by an outer sheath. Auxiliary tubes 53 are located within cable assembly 5 and these tubes 53 are used for conveying of a cooling fluid.

[0049] FIG. 6 schematically shows a cable for a charging cable assembly for charging an electrical energy storage in side view in section, i.e. a base station (not shown here), a charging cable assembly 6 connected with the base station and a connector assembly 60. Charging cable assembly 6 is provided with at least two separate power conductors 12, at least one earth conductor (not shown here) and at least two auxiliary tubes 53. Each power conductor 12 surrounds a tube 10, wherein a first cooling fluid is pumped from the base station through tubes 10 surrounded by separate power conductors 12 and wherein a second cooling fluid is pumped from the base station through auxiliary tubes 53 for cooling plug transitions 67. The connector assembly 60 surrounds an end of the charging cable assembly 6 and comprises a connector shelf, plug transitions 67, cooling blocks 66, conductor leads 68 and tube connector 69. Plug transitions 67 are surrounded by the connector shell 61 which includes one or more cooling blocks 66 in thermal conductive contact with the plug transitions 67. Auxiliary tubes 53 are connected to cooling blocks 66. The cooling fluid flowing through auxiliary tubes 53 into cooling blocks 66, i.e. the second cooling circuit, will take up the heat generated at the plug transition 67. The cooling fluid thus heated will be transported to a cooling unit 64 and returned, via a pump 65, to auxiliary tubes 53. Conductor leads 68 provide electrical connection between the power conductors 12 and plug transitions 67 and may consist of power conductors stripped and dismantled from the cable assembly end, or may be a separate part between each power conductor 12 and respective plug transition 67. Tube connector 69 provides a fluid connection between tubes 10 within the connector assembly. The first cooling circuit comprising tubes 10, tube connector 69, cooling unit 62 and pump 63 is used for cooling separate power conductors 12. Tubes 10 are surrounded by power conductors 12. The second cooling circuit comprising auxiliary tubes 53, cooling blocks 66, cooling unit 64 and pump 65 is used for cooling plug transition 67. Although not shown in FIG. 6, auxiliary tubes 53 may be surrounded by an earth conductor. In FIG. 6 two cooling units 62, 64 are shown but in a specific embodiment only one single cooling unit is used. Such a single cooling unit may include separate cooling circuits for cooling power conductors and plug transition, or such a mutual cooling unit may be used wherein the cooling fluids of the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit are cooled in such a mutual cooling unit.

[0050] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-6 may further comprise one or more transmission elements 15 suited for the transmission of signals and/or information. Such a transmission element 15 may comprise two or more signal conductors and/or optical fibers. (Not shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6).

[0051] The earth conductors of the embodiments shown herein preferably comprise a plurality of intertwisted wires. Alternatively the earth conductors may be provided as a braid or metal foil.